Archery bow



July 1, 1941. vF. T. BROOKE 2,247,549

' ARCHERY BOW Filed Dec. 7, 1939 Fresa/E 773700286 @/Q`k #rra/amer Patented July 1, 1941 lJNlTED STATS TENT @FFME ARCHERY BOW Application December 7, 1939, Serial No. 307,947

4 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of archery, and

particularly concerns :a bow and ar-row construction or use in the practice of archery.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to produce a durable, sturdy, ecient and readily marketable bow, having excellent shooting qualities, with high accuracy capable of duplication, in ready and highly practica-ble manner, at a minimurn of investment of equipment and materials, and `at a minimum requirement of skilled labor; which bow is characterized by its long useful life and by the great ease, rapidity and absence of eiort with which the string tensi-on of the b-ow can be adjusted, so that a single bow of given overall length can be adjusted to a tension suitable to any archer. Another object is to produce a bow for use in archery in which it is possible to hold the bow string -assembly in positive manner on the bow stave, in which parts subjected to wear or `breakage can be replaced instantly, without appreciable disturbance to the remaining parts of the bow, and in the .use of which it is unnecessary for the archer to employ a wrist guard.

A further object of my invention is to produce a bow for use in archery in which the bow string has a long useful life, which bow string can be satisfactorily made of inexpensive, ordinary and strong cord, woven without especial precautions, and which bow requires a string of a minimum of strength and cost for a given flight distance.

Still 4another object is to produce a bow string for .archery in which the bow string is so mounted as to be protected against abrasion and chafing, in which a durable and thoroughly practical connection is provided for readily and easily attaching a bow string to means imparting elasticity to the bow string; in which great elasticity is imparted to the bow string relative to the 'bow stave, the string being adjustable relative to the bow stave in any of numerous easy and readily available manners; to provide a minimum of strain on the bow string for `a given iiight `distance of the arrow; and to provide a method for the complete and ready removal and installation oi the string, at a mini-mum of time and effort.

Yet another object is to produce an arrow for use in connection with the aforesaid bow, characterized by its extremely low cost and its comparatively high degree of accuracy.

Other objects will be obvious in part, yand in part pointed out hereinafter.

My invention accordingly consists in the several elements, features of construction, and operational steps, and in the combination of each of the same with one or more of the others, the scope of the application of which is indicated in the claims at the end of the specification.

For a more ready comprehension of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention; Figures 2, 4 and 5 are fragmentary side elevations, and Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation, illustrating details of various possible embodiments following my invention; Figure 6 is a broken perspective view of a rubber lband designed for imparting elasticity to the bow string in accordance with my invention; while Figure 7 is a broken elevation, depicting an arrow designed for use in connectio-n with my bow. Figure 2 is a View of one end of my new bow, while Figures 3 through 5 illustrate .the other end thereof.

As conducive to :a more thorough understanding of my invention, it may be noted at this time that while there is at present an awakening interest in archery throughout the country, nevertheless `the number of participants is materially curtailed because of the comparatively high costs of the necessary equipment. Standard high quality bows, made largely through costly hand operation-s, are in particular an item of considerable investment. Furthermore, a bow of a given size or poundage, that is, requiring la pull of a given number of pounds to launch the arrow on its flight, cannot be readily changed as to power. Hence such Va bow cannot `be used for archers other than those requiring a bow of that particular power. Furthermore, according to prese-nt practice it is necessary for the archer, if he desires variation in the power of the bow, las is desirable dependent upon the physical strength of the archer and -the distance at which he is shooting, to have on hand a number of bows of diiierent sizes. Since las has already been pointed out, a high grade bow of required accuracy is a costly item. the outlay in bows alone is an item of material expense. Additionally, it is found in the use of such bows, particularly those of high power, that it is necessary to protect that hand yand w-rist of the archer with which he holds the bow, against the lblow of the string when the latter is released to launch the arr-ow on its flight. An 'object of my invention, therefore, is to produce a single, inexpensive bow, capable of accurate shooting vand of production in mass quantities, which can readily be adjusted to any power :requirements of the archer, and in the use of which no hand or Wrist guard is required by the archer.

In these expensive bows hitherto employed, breakage of the cord resulted in tedious replacement of this costly item. As contrasted with this requirement, applicants construction is such that rea-dy replacement of broken parts is possible, at a minimum of expense- In seeking to avoid the expense hitherto necessarily Iatten-dant upon the practice of archery, suggestion has been made to augment the power of the bow, and to vary the maximum power output or poundage, by interposing springs at each end of the bow string, between the string and the bow stave. Such expedient has been found impractical, however, due not only tor the first Cost of such springs, but as well to the tendency of such metal parts to rust under exposure to the elements, and to the rapid wear of the bow string resulting from chaflng against the metal parts of the bow. Additionally, vconsiderable hazard is evidently attendant upon breakage of the spring, Iand itis apparent thatsuch spring will not produce the same power per unit of weight'las will the rubber bands. Another object of my invention therefore is to produce a bow in which the power of the bow stave is augmented by the'resilient vsuspension of the bowstring from the bow stave, the suspension being of such type and of such construction that i-t is not materially damaged by exposure to the elements and'that there` is a substantial absence of frictionial wear of the bow string.

In the conventional practice of archery,.not only is'thebow ordinarily an item of appreciable cost, but the arrow itself requires expensive hand work,v toV ensure that it is turned, headed, Vand balanced. properly, that tuftin'g of just the right kind of feathers is disposed precisely the proper distance from'the endV ofthe shank of the arrow, and that the feathers are disposed in proper geometrical pattern about the circumference of the shank. Each arrow is thus seen to involve appreciable investment, and when 'it 'is'consid ered that 'the'archer is equipped with a sheave or quiver' of arrows, it is readily appreciated that the Vcost, of arrows alone has' hitherto been ma# terial. Particularly is this true wherethe archer is'a novice, in which case breakage is comparatively high, soj that the material investment is rapidly dissipated. A further object of my invention accordingly is toY produce an arrow which while it can be shot with a satisfactory degree of; accuracy, is simple in construction, and extremely inexpensive in production, andA which possesses the long life required for practical utilization;

Referring now more particularly to the drawing,'andf having reference particularly to Figure 1, a bow stave Iil is provided, about the center of which is placed a suitable grip II, of length, diameterl and material to which the hand of the archer can conveniently be adapted. In a typ-j ical instance, this gripY may comprise several neatly, rolled turns of cloth, suitably lashed by a wrapping of small gaugeV cord, the grip then beingV varnished or otherwise treated to provide a smooth, continuous surface whichwill not be Vdisarrefnged' in the course of repeated usage. Tl'is'"grip of` course mayA consist at least vinV part of vsmooth or suitably 'contoured rubber sleeves, ifso desired; Theibow stave Imay'be 'either' straight'orslightlybent. ,The bent conditIlof the" bowM stave is clearlyr indicated` in' Figures'- 2, i andl 5. Unlike the expensiveJ bows hitherto known, it is unnecessary to turn the bow stave to a high degree of smoothness, and I have encountered commercial success and have obtained effects pleasing to the eye by burning or scorching the bow stave, sanding it down, and then varnishing it, the naturalV wood knots showing up in pleasing manner. Because the power of` the bow is increased by the use of elastic means, it is unnecessary to make the bow stave' as long for a given power rating as has hitherto been necessary in the case of a conventional bow. For example, a bow stave of about five `feet length can be strung according to my invention so as to have as much as a sixty pound pull.' While I rind it preferable to form the bowstav'e stein `o`f wood, it of course may be formedfof other materials, more or less suitable for such purposes, such for an example as stainless steel. It is within the compass of my invention'to make the bow stave rigid, and to depend` entrelyon the rubber bands o'rthe other elastic materialfor the` propelling power for the. arrow. Y

Near each. endof the bow Vstave I0, apin I2,

I2 and. 2.3,'. I3 .is provided.V This pin may comprise' wooden doweling, bre. pins, metal bolts, either headed or'unheaded, and the like. Conv'eniently, the pins may be of.` 'say 1A inch diameter, and may extend approximately an inch beyond eachside of;` the/bowfstave, ata. distance of; approximately one inchy inwardly fromy the ends of the b owl stave. Similarly, near one or both ends ofthe bowstave, a pin I4, UI is pro'- vided.Y The, pin I4, Ill` is. disposed moreclosely to the center of the bow.v stave than is the pin t2, I2, It isV of course equally feasible. toy conistruct these pins as. singlev units, projectinglcompletely through the. bow.stave,'or`as a pairfof two: separate, coaxial. pins, seated in said-'bowl stave` on; diametrically opposite sides thereof, but

notA extending, Completely therethrough'. For convenience, therefore, I have referred. iniV the claims to ,pairs of pins, by` WhichI' intend either a single pin projecting at each end. beyond said bow stave, or aj pair of pins, disposedias. describedherewinbefore, The purpose of these pins will be,y fullyl pointed; out. at` a later point in` thisv Speeeation.

It has been stated., in; the foregoing thatl it is aA purpose orl my invention to; increase theV power` of theL byv increasing. the. elasticity. of, theA bow string, The generalv manner. of.` accomplishing thisnaimfwill nowubeV described, A Wv String L5, i; employed, formed of; any` suitable inexpensivegcordof proper thickness, The Strength; Of: thiseord because. of the absence ci frictionl or wear, as'willlbe pointed out more fully hereirafterfmai/be considerably less` than' 1S required with@ bQWStIihe-Of, abewof corre.-` Sperlding. Dewey but. OQf. Conventional Construction. Accordingly, it. is not. necessary that the @Ord be Water in. any.. especial manner, or o'ffan'y especial materials. Ordinary cord-'such aswillbe found. inthe conventional hardwarestore or` the like, has beenfound. to'yield 1excellent results. At'th'e 'ends ofthehbowfstring: I5,A loops IBQIII are provided, formed of' Strong,V softfand non-r abra ve materiarm a preferred embodiment, I prefer toforjrnl'theflops'of a m11 of 'cotton or wool fabric, butittisgobvlousjthat' other` woven, molded or pressail` brous Vor other'suitable material may convenientlyjbe; employedfor' the productionof such loops, Reference to Figures'lZ and l willfshow that loops Wand I7, respectively, in a preferredembodiment, are formed'fby bend-A ing the lengths of fabric near their midpoints, to form adjacent legs I8, I9 and I8 and I3', respectively, which said legs are joined together in any suitable manner at 20, 23', respectively, as by sewing.

While the bow string I may be secured to loops I6, I'I in any desired manner, it is my desire to fasten the string to the loops in such manner that there will be a minimum of direct shearing action on the string itself, at its joints with the loops. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and .4, I lash the end of the string rst several times about one leg of the loop, say the leg I9, and then about the second leg of the loop, say the leg i8. Preferably, I arrange to have that end of the bow string I5 which extends to the loop disposed on a side of the loop opposite to that on which the free end of the string extends away from the loop. In this manner, substantially all possibility of frictional wear resulting from chang or abrasion of one part of the cord comprising the bow string against another part thereof is avoided. As has been stated heretofore, this constitutes one reason why a cord of less strength than hitherto used, can be employed satisfactorily. The free end of the cord is then knotted or otherwise conveniently secured to the principal length of the bow string I5, at 2l (Figure 2). It will be understood that the manner of lashing the bow string about the lengths of the loops tends to distribute the tension of the bowstring with reasonable uniformity over the lengths of the loops, so that danger is minimized of applying undue strain at the ends of the loop which are sewn or otherwise secured together at 2i).

Through the loops I6 and I'l I thread strips of elastic material such as rubber bands 22, 23, which bands are in turn strung about pins I2, I2 and I3, I3. If rubber bands are employed, they may comprise endless loops, as in Figuresl through 4; or they may comprise a single strip 24, as in Figures 5 and 6, having loops 25, 2G .at the ends thereof, the loops preferably comprising turned-over portions secured at 2l, 28 to the main length of strip 24 in any convenient manner, as by cementing, vulcanizing, sewing or the like. When the bands 22, 23, of rubber or other material possessing suitable elasticity, are strung through loops I6, I1 and are in place about the pairs of pins I2, I2 and I3, I3, the bow is ready for use.

An important feature of my invention, as already stated in general, is the comparative ease with which the pull tension or power of .the bow may be quickly and readily varied. This is accomplished simply by varying the size or dimensions, or the number of the rubber bands or other elastic medium employed, or both. To illustrate, a single rubber band is illustrated at each end of the bow in Figure 1, and again in Figure 4. To increase or decrease the power of the bow, the length or width of the rubber band may be varied, or both; or as shown in Figures 2 and 3, this change in the pull strengthbr shootingpower of the bow may be accomplished by providing two or more rubber bands or the like. Thus the power of the bow may be readily varied within wide limits. It is to be noted that the elastic band can be replaced in an instant, simply by slipping a band out of the loops I6, I1 and mounting another in its place.

I have found it convenient simply to thread or slip the rubber band or other strip ,of elastic material through the corresponding loop of soft material until the` rubber band extends about equally on both sides of the loop. Thus two loop portions are formed in the rubber band, and one of these loop portions is slipped over the corresponding one of the pair of pins I2, I2 or I3, I3, all as willfully appear from an examination of say, Figure 1 of the drawing. The soft material fromA which loops I6, I'I are formed ensures that there is a substantial absence of frictional or abrasive wear on the rubber bands or strips of elastic material at the regions where they bear against the loops, while a minimum of frictional wear occurs at the pins. However, to remove still further the possibility of frictional Wear, the pinsy I2, I2 and I3, I3 may be either covered or formed of soft or hard rubber, polished metal such as chromium, or the like.

A further possible and thoroughly practical manner of Stringing the rubber bands or the like about the pins, having reference to Figure 4, is to string the bands through the loops IB, I1

vas in the manner previously discussed, and then to join together the loops in the bands thus formed and slip them about the end of the bow stave I 0, resting them on and over the pins I2, l2. Thus, having reference to one end of the bow stave, a semi-circular portion 29 of the loops of the rubber bands ts about the end of the bow stave, and passes over-the pins I3, I3 before extending downwardly on approximately parallel portions 30, 3G to the loop II.

In Figures 5 and 6, the strip 24 passes through the corresponding loop of soft material I6, I'I, and then the looped ends 25, 26 are fitted over pins I2, I2 or I3, I3, as the case may be.

It is of course possible to slip the bands directly over the bow stave and to hold them in position by nocks as in conventional bows, but I have found this scheme to be not nearly so simple nor nearly so practical as the use of pins which I have described hereinbefore.

If desired, and to ensure against the extremely remote possibility of the bands or strips of elastic material slipping ofl the pins, after usage over an extended period of time, the loops of elastic material may be suitably lashed to the pins. Such a lashing is illustrated in Figure 3 as constituting simply a rubber band 3l, reversely twisted so as to nt snugly and firmly about the end of the bow stave I!) and pins I3, I3, over the loops of elastic material.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the strips of elastic material at each end of the bow string are of substantially the same power. It is also advantageous to have them of the same size and number. It is to be noted that proper tension of the bow string is important. This tension is governed by the length of the string and the strength of the rubber bands or similar strips of elastic material employed. I have found that when changing from a high to a medium power, for example, or to the use of a single band, it usually becomes necessary, in order to obtain perfect results, to shorten the string somewhat.

Another important feature of my new bow is that it can be safely employed, even when strung for high shooting power, without the use of the conventional hand guard so essential where the conventional bow is employed. Even when drawn to great poundage, the string when released Will not strike the hand by which the archer holds the bow. A hand guard is unnec- 4. A bow for use in archery, comprising a bow stave having the periphery of its cross-section in the form of a continuous curve, a pair of pins having rounded peripheries projecting substantially diametrically and laterally outward from said bow stave near each end thereof, a bow string, loops of soft material of substantial thickness secured at each end to said bow string, and endless rubber bands passed through said loops, to form two loop portions of equal lengths, said loop portions being joined together and looped over the ends of said bow stave, and resting on and passing over the outer sides of said pins.

FRANK T. BROOKE. 

